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	'''''M.C. Mehta v. Union of India''''' originated in the aftermath of oleum gas leak from Shriram Food and Fertilisers ~~Ltd. complex at~~ Delhi. This gas leak ~~occurred~~ soon after the infamous [[Bhopal gas leak]] ~~and~~ created a lot of panic ~~in Delhi~~. ~~One person died in~~ the ~~incident~~ and ~~few were hospitalized~~. The case ~~lays down~~ the principle of [[~~absolute liability~~]] ~~and the concept~~ of ~~deep pockets~~.		'''''M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1987)''','' also known as '''Oleum Gas Leak Case''', is a landmark case of environmental jurisprudence in India, known for establishing the principle of [[absolute liability]] and the concept of [[deep pockets]].{{sfn\|Garwa\|2025\|p=142}}<ref name="ESCR-Net">{{Cite web \|title=M.C. Mehta and Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. & Shriram Foods and Fertiliser Industries \|url=https://www.escr-net.org/caselaw/2024/m-c-mehta-and-anr-v-union-of-india-ors-shriram-foods-and-fertiliser-industries/ \|access-date=2025-06-21 \|website=ESCR-Net \|language=en}}</ref>

			The case originated in the aftermath of [[oleum]] gas leak from a factory owned by Shriram Food and Fertilisers Industries in [[Delhi]], resulting in death of one person and hospitalisation of several others. This gas leak, occurring soon after the infamous [[Bhopal gas leak]] of 1984, created a lot of panic and raised concerns about lack of regulatory oversight. The [[Supreme Court of India]], taking cognizance of the matter under Article 32 of the [[Constitution of India]], heard the petition filed by [[M. C. Mehta]], a prominent environmental lawyer and activist seeking to hold the company liable and establish stricter environmental safeguards.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=M.C. Mehta And Anr vs Union Of India & Ors on 20 December, 1986 \|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1486949/ \|access-date=2025-06-21 \|website=indiankanoon.org}}</ref>

			The foundational principles established in this case have been incorporated into various environmental regulations and statutes, including the [[Environment Protection Act, 1986]]. The principle of absolute liability has also influenced the development of the doctrine of "[[Polluter pays principle\|polluter pays]]," further established in ''[[M. C. Mehta v. Union of India & Ors.]]'' in 1996.{{sfn\|Garwa\|2025\|p=142}}<ref name="ESCR-Net" />{{sfn\|Venkat\|2011\|p=292}}

	==Preliminary objection of the defendants==		==Preliminary objection of the defendants==
	There was only one preliminary objection filed by the counsel for the defendant, and this was that the Court should not proceed to decide these constitutional issues since there was no claim for compensation originally made in the writ petition and these issues could not be said to arise on the writ petition.		There was only one preliminary objection filed by the [[counsel]] for the defendant, and this was that the Court should not proceed to decide these constitutional issues since there was no claim for compensation originally made in the writ petition and these issues could not be said to arise in the writ petition. However, the Court, while rejecting this objection, said that though it is undoubtedly true that the petitioner could have applied for [[amendment]] of the writ petition to include a compensation claim but merely because he did not do so, the applications for compensation cannot be thrown out. These applications for compensation are for enforcement of the fundamental right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution and while dealing with such applications we cannot adopt a hyper-technical approach that would defeat the ends of justice.
	However, the Court, while rejecting this objection, said that though it is undoubtedly true that the petitioner could have applied for amendment of the writ petition ~~so as~~ to include a claim ~~for compensation~~ but merely because he did not do so, the applications for compensation cannot be thrown out. These applications for compensation are for enforcement of the fundamental right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution and while dealing with such applications we cannot adopt a hyper-technical approach ~~which~~ would defeat the ends of justice.

	==Order of the court==		==Order of the court==
	The Supreme Court made the following observation:		The Supreme Court made the following observation:
	:Since we are not deciding the question as to whether Shriram is an authority within the meaning of Article 12 ~~so as~~ to be subjected to the discipline of the fundamental right under Article 21, we do not think it would be justified in setting up a special machinery for investigation of the claims for compensation made by those who allege that they have been the victims of oleum gas escape. But we would direct that Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board to take up the cases of all those who claim to have suffered on account of oleum gas and to file actions on their behalf in the appropriate court for claiming compensation against Shriram. Such actions claiming compensation may be filed by the Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board within two months from today and the Delhi Administration is directed to provide the necessary funds to the Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board for the purpose of filing and prosecuting such actions.		: Since we are not deciding the question as to whether Shriram is an authority within the meaning of Article 12 to be subjected to the discipline of the fundamental right under Article 21, we do not think it would be justified in setting up a special machinery for investigation of the claims for compensation made by those who allege that they have been the victims of oleum gas escape. But we would direct that Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board to take up the cases of all those who claim to have suffered on account of oleum gas and to file actions on their behalf in the appropriate court for claiming compensation against Shriram. Such actions claiming compensation may be filed by the Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board within two months from today and the Delhi Administration is directed to provide the necessary funds to the Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board for the purpose of filing and prosecuting such actions.

	Thus the High Court was directed to nominate one or more Judges as may be necessary for the purpose of trying such actions so that they may be expeditiously disposed of.		Thus the High Court was directed to nominate one or more Judges as may be necessary for the purpose of trying such actions so that they may be expeditiously disposed of. Simply because the gas caused death and many people were hospitalized.
	Simply because the gas caused death and many people were ~~hospitalised~~.

	==References==		==References==
	<references/>		<references/>

			=== Books ===

			* {{cite book \|last=Garwa \|first=Dhanraj \|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Environmental_Governance_Law_Policy_and/BRBPEQAAQBAJ \|title=Environmental Governance: Law, Policy and Practice \|date=March 19, 2025 \|publisher=OrangeBooks Publication \|access-date=June 21, 2025}}
			* {{cite book \|last=Venkat \|first=Aruna \|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Environmental_Law_and_Policy/BBUvAvPLVeMC?hl=en&gbpv=0 \|title=Environmental Law and Policy \|date=2011 \|publisher=PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. \|isbn=978-81-203-4436-5 \|access-date=June 21, 2025}}

	[[Category:Supreme Court of India cases]]		[[Category:Supreme Court of India cases]]
	[[Category:1987 in case law]]		[[Category:1987 in case law]]
	[[Category:1987 in India]]		[[Category:1987 in India]]

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2021-05-09T10:23:41Z

Fixed image by adding wikilink to Court name

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{{moresources|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox court case
|name = M. C. Mehta v. Union of India
|court = [[Supreme Court of India]]
|image =
|imagesize =
|imagelink =
|imagealt =
|caption =
|full name = M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (UOI) and Ors.
|date decided = 20 December 1986
|citations = 1987 SCR (1) 819; AIR 1987 965
|ECLI =
|transcripts =
|judges = [[P.N. Bhagwati]] (Chief Justice), G.L. Misra Rangnath Oza, M.M. Dutt, K.N. Singh
|number of judges = 4
|decision by = P.N. Bhagwati
|concurring =
|dissenting =
|concur/dissent =
|prior actions =
|appealed from =
|appealed to =
|subsequent actions =
|related actions =
|opinions =
|keywords = 
|italic title =
}}

'''''M.C. Mehta v. Union of India''''' originated in the aftermath of oleum gas leak from Shriram Food and Fertilisers Ltd. complex at Delhi. This gas leak occurred soon after the infamous [[Bhopal gas leak]] and created a lot of panic in Delhi. One person died in the incident and few were hospitalized. The case lays down the principle of [[absolute liability]] and the concept of deep pockets.

==Preliminary objection of the defendants==
There was only one preliminary objection filed by the counsel for the defendant, and this was that the Court should not proceed to decide these constitutional issues since there was no claim for compensation originally made in the writ petition and these issues could not be said to arise on the writ petition.
However, the Court, while rejecting this objection, said that though it is undoubtedly true that the petitioner could have applied for amendment of the writ petition so as to include a claim for compensation but merely because he did not do so, the applications for compensation cannot be thrown out. These applications for compensation are for enforcement of the fundamental right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution and while dealing with such applications we cannot adopt a hyper-technical approach which would defeat the ends of justice.

==Order of the court==
The Supreme Court made the following observation:
:Since we are not deciding the question as to whether Shriram is an authority within the meaning of Article 12 so as to be subjected to the discipline of the fundamental right under Article 21, we do not think it would be justified in setting up a special machinery for investigation of the claims for compensation made by those who allege that they have been the victims of oleum gas escape. But we would direct that Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board to take up the cases of all those who claim to have suffered on account of oleum gas and to file actions on their behalf in the appropriate court for claiming compensation against Shriram. Such actions claiming compensation may be filed by the Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board within two months from today and the Delhi Administration is directed to provide the necessary funds to the Delhi Legal Aid and Advice Board for the purpose of filing and prosecuting such actions.

Thus the High Court was directed to nominate one or more Judges as may be necessary for the purpose of trying such actions so that they may be expeditiously disposed of.
Simply because the gas caused death and many people were hospitalised.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Supreme Court of India cases]]
[[Category:1987 in case law]]
[[Category:1987 in India]]

M. C. Mehta v. Union of India - Revision history

Shahidkumar: Content updated and refined

imported>Semanticz0: Fixed image by adding wikilink to Court name